Trump invited China's Xi to his inauguration even as he threatened massive tariffs on BeijingInternationally acclaimed Chinese artist Cao Fei’s first retrospective in Australia, My City is Yours at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, sets out to disorient and overstimulate the senses. In the exhibition introduction, Cao describes “a show that’s boisterous like the mall or the market”. It bombards you with documentaries and sci-fi films, virtual reality (VR) games and vintage arcade machines, neon lights contrasting industrial metal scaffolds, electronica jamming hip-hop music. Yet, this city-scape of an exhibition has been designed with care. You could take these all in: sitting in a vintage cinema chair by some beach sand, perhaps submerged in sponge blocks; lounging on a sofa in a family living room; hunching on a bunk bed in a factory; resting on the vinyl padded chrome chair of a Cantonese yum-cha restaurant. Cao embraces this mix of pleasure, convenience, banality, challenge and alienation condensed into the nostalgic, dazzling yet future-craving contemporary life. Retro-perspective The entrance of the show replicates the reception of the now demolished Hongxia Theatre in Beijing, built in 1957 for workers employed to build China’s first computers, with the aid of the Soviet Union. The gilt Chinese inscriptions on the scarlet signboard — “Splendid Galaxy” and “Human World Motion Pictures” — set the retro-futuristic tone that permeates the exhibition. Through the doors, the gallery space transforms into offices and a cinema furnished with Hongxia Theatre’s chairs, desks and chandeliers. Behind a curtain of a retro wardrobe flashes portraits of current residents. Cao rented the theatre as a studio between 2015 and 2021. Her time roaming the once cultural hotspot for China’s early techno-optimists results in installations, two documentaries and a sci-fi film, as well as VR work. Through this range of media, the ambitious project connects past and future, as the exhibition section title, Enter the Wormhole, suggests. The documentary Postscript of Hongxia (2023) captures the memories and fights of the residents and the buildings being brutally bulldozed. Another video work, An Elegy to Hongxia (2023), plays the overly optimistic folk music The Morning Sun at Eight and Nine O’clock (composed by Chinese contemporary indie musician Xiongxiong Homework). The music takes its title from a famous quote by Chairman Mao stressing young people’s vigour, yet the accordion player performs this elegy amid the ruins of the cinema, farewelling a lost socialist dream. This lost dream and accordion music rebirth in Cao’s 2019 sci-fi film NOVA. In this imagined town Nova, a Chinese computer scientist and a Soviet expert fall in love, dancing to Soviet folk and propaganda music, Katyusha. But this collective dream ends again in tragedy. Their love child dissolves into a digital soul trapped in a virtual realm. He is trekking China’s past, present and future socialisms, perhaps forever. Factory disco and Canto-humour Moving toward the Factory Zone, the doubt on techno progression in NOVA is replaced by a disco frenzy in the film Asia One (2018). This story sets in the world’s first fully automated storage and distribution centre in Kunshan, outskirt of Shanghai. Workers dressed in Maoist period style dance in the empty gigantic warehouse. A red banner in yellow Chinese characters reads “Humans and machines, hand in hand creating miracles”. The rebellious spirit and optimism in Asia One on one hand evoke connection to China’s recent revolution, on another hand suggest some hope of a future collaborating with machines. This retro fantasy could be Cao’s iconic Canto-humour, influenced by 1990s Hong Kong films such as Stephen Chow’s mo lei tau (nonsense) comedies. Such films were once screened in the Harbour City Cinema, in Sydney’s Chinatown, and Cao has selected movie posters to exhibit alongside the Hongxia project. The same kind of absurdist Cantonese humour can be found in her earliest DV video work Imbalance 257 (1999). Youngsters from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts act out scenes in the studio, toilet, dormitory and video game arcade. This is the work that caught the attention of the art world, bringing Cao to a global audience two decades ago. This video work, together with other early DV videos like Rabid Dog (2002) and San Yuan Li (2003, with Ou Ning) are played on retro CRT TVs. You could watch these DVs on the tables surrounding dim-sum trolleys salvaged from the old Haymarket Marigold restaurant. Chinatown hip hop shuffle Sydney’s Asian-Australian community is celebrated in the newly commissioned work, Hip Hop: Sydney. It is part of Cao’s ongoing series featuring amateur locals dancing on the streets of Guangzhou, New York, Fukuoka and now Sydney. For this iteration, cosplayers dance in dress-up photo booths; tour guides dance in front of the Haymarket Chinatown ceremonial archway; 90-year-old George Wing Kee dances in front of the Sydney sensation Emperor’s Garden Cakes & Bakery; shoppers dance between aisles of Asian food in Market City’s Thai Kee supermarket; writer and broadcaster Benjamin Law cameos as a waiter. He dances in front of the famous Chinatown Chinese Noodle Restaurant while its boss, Xiaotang Qin, plays Jingle Bells on his violin. Exiting the exhibition with this seasonal number still ringing in your ears, you walk fittingly into the gift shop. It appropriately decks out in an assortment of Chinese-cyber-sci-fi-inspired gifts, seemingly mirroring the boisterous market. Yet, beyond the alluring frantic façade, Cao grapples with questions of techno-optimism, social and urban transformation, virtual identities and their commidifcation. In other words, this is an exhibition about this brave new human condition we are each coming to terms with. Cao Fei: My City is Yours 曹斐: 欢迎登陆 is at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until April 13 2025.
Woman claims she was ‘lured' to Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' party through radio contestStocks drifted higher on Wall Street in midday trading Thursday, as gains in tech companies and retailers helped boost the market. The S&P 500 rose less than 0.1%. The benchmark index is coming off a three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 19 points, or 0.1%, as of 12:32 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was up less than 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened after the Christmas holiday. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.9%, Intel was up 0.7% and Apple gained 0.4%. While tech stocks overall were in the green, some heavyweights were a drag on the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.9%, Amazon was down 0.5%, and Netflix gave up 1.4%. Health care stocks also helped lift the market. CVS Health rose 1.9% and Walgreens Boots Alliance rose 3.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 2.9%, Best Buy was up 2.1% and Dollar Tree gained 2.2%. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 15.8%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. Traders got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week , though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.61% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 26% so far this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to next week, including updates on pending home sales and home prices, a report on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. ___ AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed. Alex Veiga, The Associated Press
UNLV beats UC Riverside 66-53Internationally acclaimed Chinese artist Cao Fei’s first retrospective in Australia, My City is Yours at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, sets out to disorient and overstimulate the senses. In the exhibition introduction, Cao describes “a show that’s boisterous like the mall or the market”. It bombards you with documentaries and sci-fi films, virtual reality (VR) games and vintage arcade machines, neon lights contrasting industrial metal scaffolds, electronica jamming hip-hop music. Yet, this city-scape of an exhibition has been designed with care. You could take these all in: sitting in a vintage cinema chair by some beach sand, perhaps submerged in sponge blocks; lounging on a sofa in a family living room; hunching on a bunk bed in a factory; resting on the vinyl padded chrome chair of a Cantonese yum-cha restaurant. Cao embraces this mix of pleasure, convenience, banality, challenge and alienation condensed into the nostalgic, dazzling yet future-craving contemporary life. Retro-perspective The entrance of the show replicates the reception of the now demolished Hongxia Theatre in Beijing, built in 1957 for workers employed to build China’s first computers, with the aid of the Soviet Union. The gilt Chinese inscriptions on the scarlet signboard — “Splendid Galaxy” and “Human World Motion Pictures” — set the retro-futuristic tone that permeates the exhibition. Through the doors, the gallery space transforms into offices and a cinema furnished with Hongxia Theatre’s chairs, desks and chandeliers. Behind a curtain of a retro wardrobe flashes portraits of current residents. Cao rented the theatre as a studio between 2015 and 2021. Her time roaming the once cultural hotspot for China’s early techno-optimists results in installations, two documentaries and a sci-fi film, as well as VR work. Through this range of media, the ambitious project connects past and future, as the exhibition section title, Enter the Wormhole, suggests. The documentary Postscript of Hongxia (2023) captures the memories and fights of the residents and the buildings being brutally bulldozed. Another video work, An Elegy to Hongxia (2023), plays the overly optimistic folk music The Morning Sun at Eight and Nine O’clock (composed by Chinese contemporary indie musician Xiongxiong Homework). The music takes its title from a famous quote by Chairman Mao stressing young people’s vigour, yet the accordion player performs this elegy amid the ruins of the cinema, farewelling a lost socialist dream. This lost dream and accordion music rebirth in Cao’s 2019 sci-fi film NOVA. In this imagined town Nova, a Chinese computer scientist and a Soviet expert fall in love, dancing to Soviet folk and propaganda music, Katyusha. But this collective dream ends again in tragedy. Their love child dissolves into a digital soul trapped in a virtual realm. He is trekking China’s past, present and future socialisms, perhaps forever. Factory disco and Canto-humour Moving toward the Factory Zone, the doubt on techno progression in NOVA is replaced by a disco frenzy in the film Asia One (2018). This story sets in the world’s first fully automated storage and distribution centre in Kunshan, outskirt of Shanghai. Workers dressed in Maoist period style dance in the empty gigantic warehouse. A red banner in yellow Chinese characters reads “Humans and machines, hand in hand creating miracles”. The rebellious spirit and optimism in Asia One on one hand evoke connection to China’s recent revolution, on another hand suggest some hope of a future collaborating with machines. This retro fantasy could be Cao’s iconic Canto-humour, influenced by 1990s Hong Kong films such as Stephen Chow’s mo lei tau (nonsense) comedies. Such films were once screened in the Harbour City Cinema, in Sydney’s Chinatown, and Cao has selected movie posters to exhibit alongside the Hongxia project. The same kind of absurdist Cantonese humour can be found in her earliest DV video work Imbalance 257 (1999). Youngsters from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts act out scenes in the studio, toilet, dormitory and video game arcade. This is the work that caught the attention of the art world, bringing Cao to a global audience two decades ago. This video work, together with other early DV videos like Rabid Dog (2002) and San Yuan Li (2003, with Ou Ning) are played on retro CRT TVs. You could watch these DVs on the tables surrounding dim-sum trolleys salvaged from the old Haymarket Marigold restaurant. Chinatown hip hop shuffle Sydney’s Asian-Australian community is celebrated in the newly commissioned work, Hip Hop: Sydney. It is part of Cao’s ongoing series featuring amateur locals dancing on the streets of Guangzhou, New York, Fukuoka and now Sydney. For this iteration, cosplayers dance in dress-up photo booths; tour guides dance in front of the Haymarket Chinatown ceremonial archway; 90-year-old George Wing Kee dances in front of the Sydney sensation Emperor’s Garden Cakes & Bakery; shoppers dance between aisles of Asian food in Market City’s Thai Kee supermarket; writer and broadcaster Benjamin Law cameos as a waiter. He dances in front of the famous Chinatown Chinese Noodle Restaurant while its boss, Xiaotang Qin, plays Jingle Bells on his violin. Exiting the exhibition with this seasonal number still ringing in your ears, you walk fittingly into the gift shop. It appropriately decks out in an assortment of Chinese-cyber-sci-fi-inspired gifts, seemingly mirroring the boisterous market. Yet, beyond the alluring frantic façade, Cao grapples with questions of techno-optimism, social and urban transformation, virtual identities and their commidifcation. In other words, this is an exhibition about this brave new human condition we are each coming to terms with. Cao Fei: My City is Yours 曹斐: 欢迎登陆 is at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until April 13 2025.
Upbound Expands Financial Reach with Brigit AcquisitionInflation tempers Idaho's record agriculture projectionsSustainable Sanitation Innovation: Vacuum Toilet Systems Market Poised for Significant Growth by 2030
1 Reason to Sell DexCom Stock, and 1 Reason to BuyHow major US stock indexes fared Thursday, 12/12/2024
OTTAWA — The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has ordered Canada to address a backlog of requests under Jordan's Principle which is meant to ensure First Nations children don't wait to receive assistance because of jurisdictional battles. The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society raised concerns that Ottawa was taking too long to process requests for financing through Jordan's Principle, leaving children without access to services. The principle stipulates that when a First Nations child needs health, social or educational services they are to receive them from the government first approached, with questions about final jurisdiction worked out afterward. It's named after Jordan River Anderson of Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. Born in 1999 with multiple disabilities, Anderson died at five years old without ever leaving the hospital, because federal and provincial governments couldn’t decide who should pay for his at-home care. Caring Society executive director Cindy Blackstock told the tribunal the ever-growing Jordan's Principle backlog was of Canada's own making and that some kids are waiting months to receive the care they need. Urgent Jordan’s Principle requests are supposed to be processed within 24 hours. But urgent requests are taking up to one month to be reviewed, according to Independent First Nations, an advocacy body representing a dozen First Nations in Ontario and Quebec. Blackstock’s January affidavit said nearly half of requests made by individuals from those First Nations in 2023-24 are still in review, along with 10 per cent of the files submitted in 2022-23. The delays extend to the reimbursement of service providers, the Caring Society argued, with the Indigenous Services department missing its own promise to make those payments within 15 days. In 2022-23, the department processed only 50.7 per cent of payments within 15 business days, compared to 82.9 per cent in 2021-22. The tribunal wrote in a decision Thursday that Canada admitted to the backlog, but the estimated size of it differs between parties. "There is a backlog of cases and some of them may very well be urgent and this will be established when Canada reviews the email requests in the backlog," the decision says. The tribunal ordered Canada to return to it with a detailed plan, timelines and targets to address the backlog before Dec. 10. Jennifer Kozelj, spokesperson for Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, said in a statement that the department remains focused on ensuring First Nations children can access the services they need, and that they are reviewing the tribunal's decision. "Since 2016, we have invested nearly $8.1 billion to meet the needs of First Nations children through Jordan's Principle, working collaboratively to develop processes and operations to meet the growing volume of requests," she wrote. "Additionally, more than 7.8 million products, services and supports were approved under Jordan’s Principle since 2016." In the decision Thursday, the tribunal also highlighted the need for a "credible and independent national and effective" complaints mechanism for Jordan's Principle. "The Tribunal agrees it would be best to have broad consultations with First Nations for the creation of a permanent independent Indigenous-led complaints mechanism," the decision says. Still, the tribunal wrote that interim complaints mechanisms can be implemented before that formal structure is created. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2024. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian PressThe yearning for Uranus: A far-out world with a tale to tellGavin McKenna will suit up for Canada at the world junior hockey championship. Set to turn 17 next week, the star forward with the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers headlines the country's 25-player roster for the annual tournament announced Friday. McKenna, who is projected as the potential top pick at the 2026 NHL draft, will be joined by a pair of fellow youngsters battling for the No. 1 selection spot in June — 18-year-old winger Porter Martone and 17-year-old defenceman Matthew Schaefer. Five of seven eligible returnees from last year's squad that finished a disappointing fifth in Sweden are back, with forwards Easton Cowan, Brayden Yager and Carson Rehkopf getting the nod, while defencemen Oliver Bonk and Tanner Molendyk will anchor the blue line. The two players unable to hold onto their spots for the event set to run Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Ottawa are forward Matthew Wood and goaltender Scott Ratzlaff. Making up the rest of the group up front are Bradly Nadeau, Jett Luchanko, Luca Pinelli, Berkly Catton, Ethan Gauthier, Calum Ritchie, Tanner Howe, Cole Beaudoin and Mathieu Cataford. Nadeau didn't attend selection camp in Ottawa this week, but was guaranteed a spot after being made available by the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes from their American Hockey League affiliate. Canada's defence corps also includes Andrew Gibson, Sam Dickinson, Caden Price, Sawyer Mynio and Beau Akey. The hockey powerhouse's three-headed crease contingent is made up of goaltenders Jack Ivankovic — another 17-year-old eligible for June's NHL draft — Carter George and Carson Bjarnason. "We believe we have assembled a competitive and talented roster that will give us the best opportunity to win a gold medal on home ice," Hockey Canada's Peter Anholt, who leads the under-20 program's management group, said in a statement. "We look forward to them wearing the Maple Leaf with pride." The Canadians, who will be looking to add to a record 20 gold medals at the annual showcase, were ousted in last year's quarterfinals thanks to a last-minute loss to Czechia. Among the other notable cuts Friday were Calgary Flames defence prospect Zayne Parekh and Beckett Sennecke, who was selected No. 3 overall by the Anaheim Ducks at the 2024 draft. Both players were late injury additions for selection camp and are eligible to try out again next year. Canada will now hold training camp in Petawawa, Ont., before pre-tournament games against Switzerland, Sweden and Czechia. The hosts open Group A at the Canadian Tire Centre, home of the NHL's Ottawa Senators, on Boxing Day against Finland. The defending champions United States, Latvia and Germany make up the rest of the field. Group B at TD Place, home of the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67's, includes Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Kazakhstan. Russia remains banned by the International Ice Hockey Federation due to that country's ongoing war in Ukraine. Ottawa last hosted the world juniors in 2009 when Canada defeated Sweden to secure a record-tying fifth straight gold. Cameron, who guided the country atop the podium in 2022 after winning silver in 2011, was an assistant coach on the staff of the late Pat Quinn at that tournament 15 years ago in the nation's capital. "This group of 25 players is excited for the opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf in front of Canadian fans in Ottawa, and to represent their country in our quest to win a gold medal," he said in a statement. "This is a great accomplishment for these players and their families. "We know they will enjoy the world juniors experience while bringing the competitiveness needed for us to be successful and accomplish our goal." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian PressNEW YORK (AP) — Matt Zona's 15 points off the bench led Fordham to an 87-83 victory over Albany (NY) on Saturday. Zona shot 5 for 7, including 3 for 4 from beyond the arc for the Rams (8-5). Jahmere Tripp added 14 points while shooting 5 of 7 from the field and 3 for 3 from the line while they also had six rebounds and three steals. Jackie Johnson III shot 4 for 14 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points. The Great Danes (7-7) were led by Amar'e Marshall, who recorded 24 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Albany (NY) also got 19 points, eight rebounds and two steals from Justin Neely. Byron Joshua finished with 16 points and five assists. Josh Rivera scored 11 points in the first half for Fordham, who led 46-35 at halftime. Fordham took the lead for good with 12:53 left in the second half on a 3-pointer from Zona to make it a 57-54 game. Fordham's next game is Tuesday against Saint Louis at home. Albany (NY) hosts Stony Brook on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump is brushing off Ontario’s threat to restrict electricity exports in retaliation for sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods, as the province floats the idea of effectively barring sales of American alcohol. On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford said Ontario is contemplating restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York state and Minnesota if Trump follows through on a threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada. “That’s OK if he that does that. That’s fine,” Trump told American network CNBC when asked Thursday about Ford’s remarks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. “The United States is subsidizing Canada and we shouldn’t have to do that,” Trump added. “And we have a great relationship. I have so many friends in Canada, but we shouldn’t have to subsidize a country,” he said, claiming this amounts to more than US$100 billion annually in unspecified subsidies. Meanwhile, an official in the Ford government says it’s considering restricting the Liquor Control Board of Ontario from buying American-made alcohol. The province says the Crown agency is the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world. The province also says it could restrict exports of Canadian critical minerals required for electric-vehicle batteries, and bar American companies from provincial procurement. Ford doubled down Thursday on the idea of cutting off energy exports. The province says that in 2013, Ontario exported enough energy to power 1.5 million homes in those three states. “It’s a last resort,” Ford said. “We’re sending a message to the U.S. (that if) you come and attack Ontario, you attack livelihoods of people in Ontario and Canadians, we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend Ontarians and Canadians. Let’s hope it never comes to that.” Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce said the province would rather have co-operation with the U.S., but has mechanisms to “end power sale into the U.S. market” the day Trump takes office on Jan. 20. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith ruled out following suit. “Under no circumstances will Alberta agree to cut off oil and gas exports,” she said. “Our approach is one of diplomacy, not threats.” Michael Sabia, president and CEO of Hydro-Québec, said “it’s not our current intention” to cut off Quebec’s exports to Massachusetts or New York state, but he conceded it might be possible. “Our intention is to respect those contracts, both because they’re legally binding, but also because it’s part of, in our view, a sound relationship with the United States,” he said. “It’s a questionable instrument to use in a trade conflict.” Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew would not directly say whether Manitoba would threaten to withhold hydroelectric exports. “We are preparing our list and starting to think through what those options should look like,” he said. “I’m not going to make specific news today about items that we’re looking at.” Kinew added that some premiers felt retaliatory measures wouldn’t work in a call Trudeau held Wednesday. Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey said “we have no interest in stopping” the export of energy to the U.S., adding that a trade war would hurt both countries. “We hope it is just bluster; we’re preparing as if it is not,” he said. Canada supplies more oil to the U.S. than any other country. About 60 per cent of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85 per cent of U.S. electricity imports as well. Canada sold $170 billion worth of energy products last year to the U.S. It also has 34 critical minerals and metals the Pentagon is eager for. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tax on all products entering the United States from Canada and Mexico unless they stem the flow of migrants and drugs. Canadian officials have said it is unfair to lump Canada in with Mexico. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Canada since has promised more border security spending to address Trump’s border concerns. Ford said that will include more border and police officers, as well as drones and sniffer dogs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press, Liam Casey in Toronto, Lisa Johnson in Edmonton and Steve Lambert in Winnipeg. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
Trump is named Time's Person of the Year and rings the New York Stock Exchange's opening bell NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange after being recognized by Time magazine as its person of the year. The honors Thursday for the businessman-turned-politician are a measure of Trump’s remarkable comeback from an ostracized former president who refused to accept his election loss four years ago to a president-elect who won the White House decisively in November. At the stock exchange, Trump was accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, daughters Ivanka and Tiffany and Vice President-elect JD Vance. Trump grinned as people chanted “USA” before he opened the trading day and raised his fist. YouTube TV is hiking its monthly price, again. Here's what to know NEW YORK (AP) — Are you a YouTube TV subscriber? Your monthly bills are about to get more expensive again. YouTube has announced that it’s upping the price of its streaming service’s base plan by $10 — citing rising content costs and other investments. The new $82.99 per month price tag will go into effect starting Jan. 13 for existing subscribers, and immediately for new customers who sign up going forward. YouTube TV has rolled out a series of price hikes over the years. When launched back in 2017, the going price of its streaming package was $35 a month. By 2019, that fee rose to $50 — and has climbed higher and higher since. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre's brotherhood is still strong after 30 years with new album 'Missionary' LOS ANGELES (AP) — When it comes to music, there’s one person in particular Snoop Dogg trusts to steer the ship without question: hit-making producer Dr. Dre. Their bond, built over 30 years of brotherhood, began when Dr. Dre shaped Snoop’s game-changing debut, “Doggystyle,” a cornerstone of hip-hop history. From young dreamers chasing stardom to legends cementing their legacies, the duo has always moved in sync. Now, the dynamic pair reunites for Snoop’s “Missionary,” his milestone 20th studio album, which releases Friday. The 15-track project features several big-name guest appearances including Eminem, 50 Cent, Sting, Method Man, Jelly Roll, Tom Petty, Jhené Aiko and Method Man. Country star Morgan Wallen sentenced in chair-throwing case NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country music star Morgan Wallen has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment. He had been charged for throwing a chair from the rooftop of a six-story bar in Nashville and nearly hitting two police officers with it. Wallen appeared in court alongside his attorney on Thursday. He was sentenced to spend seven days in a DUI education center and will be under supervised probation for two years. According to the arrest affidavit, Wallen was accused of throwing a chair off the roof of Chief’s bar on April 7. The chair landed about a yard from the officers. Witnesses told police they saw Wallen pick up a chair, throw it off the roof and laugh about it. Indian teen Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest chess world champion after beating Chinese rival NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest chess world champion after beating the defending champion Ding Liren of China. Dommaraju, 18, secured 7.5 points against 6.5 of his Chinese rival in Thursday's game which was played in Singapore. He has surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov who won the title at the age of 22. Dommaraju is now also the second Indian to win the title after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The Indian teen prodigy has long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12. He had entered the match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. 'Vanderpump Rules' star James Kennedy arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Police say “Vanderpump Rules” star James Kennedy has been arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence. Police in Burbank, California, say officers investigated reports of an argument between a man and a woman at a residence late Tuesday night and arrested the 32-year-old Kennedy. He was released from jail after posting bail. A representative of Kennedy did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The Burbank city attorney will decide whether to file charges. Kennedy is a DJ and reality TV star who has appeared for 10 seasons on “Vanderpump Rules” — the Bravo series about the lives of employees at a set of swank restaurants. The wife of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own death moves to end their marriage MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The wife of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own drowning so he could abscond to Europe has filed a court action to end the couple's marriage. Online court records indicate Emily Borgwardt filed a petition in Dodge County Circuit Court on Thursday seeking to annul her marriage to Ryan Borgwardt. A hearing has been set for April. According to court documents, Ryan Borgwardt staged his own drowning by leaving his overturned kayak floating on Green Lake. He flew to Eastern Europe, where he spent several days in a hotel with a woman before taking up residence in the country of Georgia. He is charged with misdemeanor obstruction in Green Lake County. San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A block in downtown San Francisco has been renamed for acclaimed photojournalist Joe Rosenthal, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his iconic photo of U.S. Marines raising the flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during WWII. The longtime staff photographer for the San Francisco Chronicle, who died in 2006 at age 94, is also remembered for the 35 years he spent documenting the city's famous and not so famous for the daily newspaper. He photographed a young Willie Mays getting his hat fitted as a San Francisco Giant in 1957. He also photographed joyous children making a mad dash for freedom on the last day of school in 1965. Nearly half of US teens are online 'constantly,' Pew report finds Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly,” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health. That's according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used — 90% said they watched videos on the site, down slightly from 95% in 2022. There was a slight downward trend in several popular apps teens used. For instance, 63% of teens said they used TikTok, down from 67% and Snapchat slipped to 55% from 59%. Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment.Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
WASHINGTON — The Commerce Department's eff orts to curb China's and Russia's access to American-made advanced computer chips have been "inadequate" and will need more funding to stymie their ability to manufacture advanced weapons, according to a new report from the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The Biden administration imposed export controls to limit the ability of China and Russia to access U.S.-made chips after Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. The agency's Bureau of Industry and Security, according to the report released this week, does not have the resources to enforce export controls and has been too reliant on U.S. chip makers voluntarily complying with the rules. But the push for bolstering Commerce's export control enforcement comes as the incoming Trump administration says it is looking to dramatically reduce the size and scope of federal government. President-elect Donald Trump has tapped entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new "Department of Government Efficiency" to dismantle parts of the federal government. People are also reading... The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. BIS's budget, about $191 million, has remained essentially fl at since 2010 when adjusted for inflation. "While BIS' budget has been stagnant for a decade, the bureau works diligently around the clock to meet its mission and safeguard U.S. national security," Commerce Department spokesperson Charlie Andrews said in a statement in response to the report. Andrews added that with "necessary resources from Congress" the agency would be "better equipped to address the challenges that come with our evolving national security environment." In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Wednesday, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, chair of the subcommittee, pointed to an audit of Texas Instruments that showed the Russian military continued to acquire components from Texas Instruments through front companies in Hong Kong to illustrate how the export controls are failing as an effective tool. The committee's findings, Blumenthal said, suggest that Texas Instruments "missed clear warning signs" that three companies in its distribution chain had been diverting products to Russia. Texas Instruments did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "While Congress must provide BIS more resources to undertake its critical mission, it is long past time for BIS to make full use of the enforcement powers Congress has conferred upon it and take aggressive steps to cut the flow of U.S. semiconductors into the Russian war machine," Blumenthal wrote. It's not just Texas Instruments that's the issue. The subcommittee in September published a report that found aggregated exports from four major U.S. advanced chip manufacturers nearly doubled from 2021 to 2022 to Armenia and Georgia. Both of those countries are home to front companies known to assist Russia in acquiring advanced chips made in the U.S. despite export controls. China, meanwhile, has created "vast, barely disguised smuggling networks which enable it to continue to harness U.S. technology," the subcommittee report asserts. Washington has been gradually expanding the number of companies affected by such export controls in China, as President Joe Biden's administration has encouraged an expansion of investments in and manufacturing of chips in the U.S. But Chinese companies have found ways to evade export controls in part because of a lack of China subject matter experts and Chinese speakers assigned to Commerce's export control enforcement. The agency's current budget limits the number of international end-use checks, or physical verification overseas of distributors or companies receiving American-made chips that are the supposed end users of products. Currently, Commerce has only 11 export control officers spread around the globe to conduct such checks. The committee made several recommendations in its report, including Congress allocating more money to hire additional personnel to enforce export controls, imposing larger fines on companies that violate controls and requiring periodic reviews of advanced chip companies' export control plans by outside entities. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!There are two reasons to write a business book, according to Brad Stone , author of “The Everything Store.” You’re either writing a thriller or a how-to-manual. In “The Nvidia Way,” veteran technology journalist Tae Kim manages to do both. Kim charts the improbable rise of Nvidia from a fledgling three-person ‘90s era graphics chip startup, one of countless others in a crowded and cutthroat field, to the largest and most influential computer company in the world. Kim also lays out the reasons for Nvidia’s success. It wasn’t just that they had talented leaders, good timing, or industry-leading technology. Nvidia succeeded because it cultivates a unique culture of excellence which he dubs “The Nvidia Way.” At the center of this story is CEO Jensen Huang, described by one employee in the book as an “extremely persuasive and extremely hard working” leader, who has been leading the firm and shaping this culture since its founding in 1993. Huang is one of the longest-tenured CEO in the technology industry and one of the few lone founders still running the show. As Kim readily acknowledges, the Nvidia Way is really the Jensen Way. He sets the culture. What is the Nvidia Way? First, hire the best people. When in doubt, go for raw talent over experience. Second, reward performance and compensate your best people very well. Third, demand excellence and accountability from everyone all the time, starting at the top. Huang is a Taiwanese immigrant of humble origin who excelled in math and table tennis and graduated high school at 16. He later befriended Nvidia’s other co-founders, Curtis Priem, who also began programming computers in high school, and Chris Malachowsky, who realized midway through his MCAT exam he didn’t want to be a doctor, in Silicon Valley’s tight-knit community. Over countless coffees at a neighborhood Denny’s, they convinced each other to quit their jobs and start a new company. From day one, Huang was CEO. Priem and Malachowsky are interesting figures, and we get to know them a little, but if the Nvidia story was the Avengers, Huang is Iron Man, the star of the show. Nvidia launched at “the perfect time,” says Kim. By 1993, the demand for graphics chips powering video games like “Doom” was exploding. But despite the favorable market conditions, Nvidia’s first chip, the NV1, was a flop. “Nobody goes to the store to buy a Swiss Army knife. It’s something you get for Christmas” Huang later recounted about the product, which was fatally overengineered. “When we were younger, we sucked at a lot of things, ” says Huang,” adding that Nvidia might have done better if he simply was not around in the first five years. A new chip, the RIVA 128, saved the company. Nvidia even turned a modest profit in its first year. This success would be short-lived. The next half-decade was characterized by both big wins, and large setbacks. “Building a company is a new skill,” Huang admits. Nvidia often found itself on the back foot early on. Designing and launching a graphics card took more than a year, but chip buyers were refreshing their lineup of PCs every six months, meaning no one company could ever stay on top. Huang’s solution: “We’re going to fundamentally restructure the engineering department to line up with the refresh cycles.” This decision changed the chip industry as every other competitor was forced to keep pace or die. Huang calls this “moving at the Speed of Light,” the theoretical limit of how fast anything can travel, to win. A “Star Trek” fan, he was talked out of dubbing this culture of quickness the much geekier “Mycelium Spore Drive.” After a few years, Nvidia began to hit its stride, going public in 1999 and then winning the contract for the first Xbox from Microsoft. Later, Nvidia grabbed 85% of Apple’s entire computer lineup. As the company grew more successful, Huang became obsessed with “The Innovator’s Dilemma,” a concept coined by professor Clayton Christensen, which describes how incumbents are often disrupted by more nimble upstarts. Huang’s fear of getting disrupted drives him. “The only thing that lasts longer than our products is sushi,” he likes to joke. It’s why he’s partial to erasable whiteboards, which “represent the belief that a successful idea, no matter how brilliant, must eventually be erased, and a new one must take its pace.” Nvidia’s first true killer product was the graphical processor unit, or GPU, launched in 2003. The GPU changed the market perception by putting the GPU (the graphics engine) on par with a better-known CPU, or central processing unit. This was more than marketing hyperbole. The new class of chips was programmable, which meant they could be used for a myriad of use cases. At first, Nvidia had no clue just how versatile the GPU truly was. “Really the modern GPU, we kind of stumbled onto,” said Nvidia scientist David Kirk. As it turned out, super powerful graphics engines were great for other kinds of computation, including the nascent field of AI research. In fact, academics credit Nvidia’s GPU with leveling the playing field in research by democratizing computing power. Recognizing the AI opportunity early, Huang declared in 2012, “We need to consider this work as our highest priority.” To make the GPUs easy for non-graphics users to program, Nvidia created a software interface known as CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture). Over time, CUDA became the company’s greatest asset. Once you get used to programming chips in one environment, you never want to leave. Nvidia also began aggressively cultivating AI researchers through grants, joint ventures, and partnerships with academia. This decades-long effort helped to effectively create a market for its GPUs. As Nvidia grew, they remained vigilant against the corporate bloat and inertia that kills companies. Huang hates corporate hierarchy. “You want a company that’s as large as necessary to do the job well, but to be as small as possible.” For him, the goal is to have a Vulcan mind meld (another “Star Trek” reference) with his people, where people can share and anticipate each other’s thoughts. Kim’s book leaves readers with the impression the AI age is just getting started. Nvidia, for their part, thinks the entire data center market, made up mostly of CPUs, will need to switch to GPUs, representing more than a trillion dollars in chip purchases. The “big bang” for Nvidia came in 2023, shortly after the release of ChatGPT, when the company beat its revenue estimates by a staggering $4 billion. For some, Nvidia’s rapid ascent to being the world’s largest company was a shock. For anyone paying attention, Kim argues, their eventual success should have been obvious. “It is Jensen’s personal will that has shaped Nvidia,” says Kim, asking what happens when he and the company part ways. That question goes unanswered. For now, Nvidia sits unassailable atop the mountain, surrounded by a cultural moat few can traverse. Alex Tapscott is the author of “Web3: Charting the Internet’s Next Economic and Cultural Frontier” and managing director of the Digital Asset Group, a division of Ninepoint Partners LPDrones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” Who regulates drones? The FAA is responsible for the , and Congress has written some requirements into law. Who enforces the rules? With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. What does it take to become a drone pilot? To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Are drones allowed to fly at night? Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Are drones a hazard? Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Will drone rules get tougher? Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it’s up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It’s a brand new technology that’s not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” ___ Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed. David Koenig, The Associated Press
A huge solar farm is being built on our doorstep and it's going to wreck our lives
NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Zona's 15 points off the bench led Fordham to an 87-83 victory over Albany (NY) on Saturday. Zona shot 5 for 7, including 3 for 4 from beyond the arc for the Rams (8-5). Jahmere Tripp added 14 points while shooting 5 of 7 from the field and 3 for 3 from the line while they also had six rebounds and three steals. Jackie Johnson III shot 4 for 14 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points. The Great Danes (7-7) were led by Amar'e Marshall, who recorded 24 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Albany (NY) also got 19 points, eight rebounds and two steals from Justin Neely. Byron Joshua finished with 16 points and five assists. Josh Rivera scored 11 points in the first half for Fordham, who led 46-35 at halftime. Fordham took the lead for good with 12:53 left in the second half on a 3-pointer from Zona to make it a 57-54 game. Fordham's next game is Tuesday against Saint Louis at home. Albany (NY) hosts Stony Brook on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Elyria Catholic girls basketball: Lexi Rodriguez overcomes setbacks, is grateful in return to the court
Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump is brushing off Ontario’s threat to restrict electricity exports in retaliation for sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods, as the province floats the idea of effectively barring sales of American alcohol. On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford said Ontario is contemplating restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York state and Minnesota if Trump follows through on a threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada. “That’s OK if he that does that. That’s fine,” Trump told American network CNBC when asked Thursday about Ford’s remarks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. “The United States is subsidizing Canada and we shouldn’t have to do that,” Trump added. “And we have a great relationship. I have so many friends in Canada, but we shouldn’t have to subsidize a country,” he said, claiming this amounts to more than US$100 billion annually in unspecified subsidies. Meanwhile, an official in the Ford government says it’s considering restricting the Liquor Control Board of Ontario from buying American-made alcohol. The province says the Crown agency is the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world. The province also says it could restrict exports of Canadian critical minerals required for electric-vehicle batteries, and bar American companies from provincial procurement. Ford doubled down Thursday on the idea of cutting off energy exports. The province says that in 2013, Ontario exported enough energy to power 1.5 million homes in those three states. “It’s a last resort,” Ford said. “We’re sending a message to the U.S. (that if) you come and attack Ontario, you attack livelihoods of people in Ontario and Canadians, we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend Ontarians and Canadians. Let’s hope it never comes to that.” Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce said the province would rather have co-operation with the U.S., but has mechanisms to “end power sale into the U.S. market” the day Trump takes office on Jan. 20. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith ruled out following suit. “Under no circumstances will Alberta agree to cut off oil and gas exports,” she said. “Our approach is one of diplomacy, not threats.” Michael Sabia, president and CEO of Hydro-Québec, said “it’s not our current intention” to cut off Quebec’s exports to Massachusetts or New York state, but he conceded it might be possible. “Our intention is to respect those contracts, both because they’re legally binding, but also because it’s part of, in our view, a sound relationship with the United States,” he said. “It’s a questionable instrument to use in a trade conflict.” Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew would not directly say whether Manitoba would threaten to withhold hydroelectric exports. “We are preparing our list and starting to think through what those options should look like,” he said. “I’m not going to make specific news today about items that we’re looking at.” Kinew added that some premiers felt retaliatory measures wouldn’t work in a call Trudeau held Wednesday. Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey said “we have no interest in stopping” the export of energy to the U.S., adding that a trade war would hurt both countries. “We hope it is just bluster; we’re preparing as if it is not,” he said. Canada supplies more oil to the U.S. than any other country. About 60 per cent of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85 per cent of U.S. electricity imports as well. Canada sold $170 billion worth of energy products last year to the U.S. It also has 34 critical minerals and metals the Pentagon is eager for. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tax on all products entering the United States from Canada and Mexico unless they stem the flow of migrants and drugs. Canadian officials have said it is unfair to lump Canada in with Mexico. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Canada since has promised more border security spending to address Trump’s border concerns. Ford said that will include more border and police officers, as well as drones and sniffer dogs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press, Liam Casey in Toronto, Lisa Johnson in Edmonton and Steve Lambert in Winnipeg. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
Samsung Fires Employee After Galaxy S25 Plus Leak Incident
Friendly reminder |
The authenticity of this information has not been verified by this website and is for your reference only. Please do not reprint without permission. If authorized by this website, it should be used within the scope of authorization and marked with "Source: this website". |
Special attention |
Some articles on this website are reprinted from other media. The purpose of reprinting is to convey more industry information, which does not mean that this website agrees with their views and is responsible for their authenticity. Those who make comments on this website forum are responsible for their own content. This website has the right to reprint or quote on the website. The comments on the forum do not represent the views of this website. If you need to use the information provided by this website, please contact the original author. The copyright belongs to the original author. If you need to contact this website regarding copyright, please do so within 15 days. |